'Tis time for trip to the hospital

’TIS the season for partying, drinking, travelling and, for many, a trip to the emergency department.

Queensland Health statistics show there is traditionally a massive jump in the number of people presenting for treatment at Nambour and Caloundra hospitals on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Last year, Christmas Day fell on a Thursday and proved 61% busier than any normal Thursday and:

Friday, December 26, was up 64%

Saturday, December 27, was up 35%

Sunday, December 28, was up 30%

Monday, December 29, was up 19%

Tuesday, December 30, was up 25%

Wednesday, December 31, was down 1%

New Year’s Day also fell on a Thursday and proved 81% busier than any normal Thursday.

Friday, January 2, was up 7%

Saturday, January 3, was up 20%

These figures are compared to the average daily presentations between September to November in the 2008 period.

Emergency physician Dr David Ward said 18- to 25-year-olds tended to be the most common age-group presenting at the department, mostly with alcohol and drug-related injuries, although there appeared to be an increased proportion of assaults on a Friday night.

“From now on we’ll see the usual injuries from late-night assaults when the pubs and clubs shut,” Dr Ward said.

“We see patients on both the receiving and the giving end of these assaults, with hand injuries in the latter group very common.

“And then we see the results of car accidents and we hope people won’t be silly enough to get behind the wheel after drinking this festive season.

“That’s all we can do – hope and then treat them when they arrive in the emergency department.”

While many hospitals see a spike in patients on a Friday night as a result of intoxication, alcohol and drug-related presentations tend to occur throughout the week at Nambour and Caloundra hospitals.